Work holder for article-attaching machines



Feb. 8, 1944. H. GUNTHER WORK-HOLDERS FOR AR TICLE ATTACHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 31 vuc Mo c Hermann gu l W w 7 2a w %.flnby Aw m z W "W 4 v. M Z w 1 M v mm Wm M T1 M H Hf GUNTHER Feb. 8, 1944.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 WORK HOLDER FOR ARTICLE-ATTACHIN G MACHINES Hermann Gunther, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 15, 1942, Serial No. 454,899 9 Claims. (Cl. 112114) This invention relates to sewing machines and it has a its primary object to provide an improved work-holder for article-attaching machines. I

It is quite common to attach handles to bags etc., and at the same time to secure thereto a reinforcing pad of leather, certain ones of the stitches which attach the pad to the article also serving to secure the handle thereto. In performing this operation there are three articles, viz.: the bag, the handle and the pad, which have to be accurately positioned relative to each other, and clamped against movement, prior to the beginning of the sewing operation. This has been difiicult to do, because the operator has only two hands to hold the three articles and the articles are of such nature that their positions are easily disturbed.

This invention has as an object to provide an improved work-clamp adapted to hold a number of separate articles and so to construct and arrange the clamp that the articles may be positioned and clamped successively, in several steps, instead of requiring that they all be positioned and clamped simultaneously as heretofore, thereby greatly facilitating loading of the work holder.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an'article-attacm ing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view, partly in section of a work-holder actuating mechanism, later to be described.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved work-holder.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3 but showing also, in section, the work-supporting plate and the work supported thereon.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear view of a portion of the improved work-clamp lookin in the direction indicated by the arrows m in Figs. 1 and3.

Fig. '7 is a face view of the product of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprising abody material, a handle and a reinforcing pad all sewed together by a single continuou seam.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is disclosed as embodied in an articleattaching machine comprising a bed-plate I, column 2, arm 3 and bracket-arm head 4 in which is mounted, for endwise reciprocation, a needle-bar 5 carrying, at its lower end, an eyepointed needle 6. Cooperating with the needle, in the formation of stitches is a loop-taker designated generally as I, in Fig. 1. Both the needlebar and the loop-taker are actuated by conventional means, not shown, from a main shaft 8 journaled lengthwise of the arm 3 and carrying at its rear end loose and fast belt-driven pulleys 9 and I0, respectively. Mounted horizontally in the standard 2 is a shaft II on which is journaled a clamp-actuating and cycle-control cam-wheel I2 having clamp-actuating cam-grooves I3 and It in the opposite faces thereof, see Figs. 1 and 2. The cam-wheel is rotated from the main shaft 8 through the medium of a worm w and cooperating worm wheel to.

Located at the upper side of the bed-plate I is a work-holding clamp designated generally as C which receives endwise and sidewise movements from the cam grooves I3 and I4 through the medium of mechanism which is generally similar to that disclosed in United States patent to Horton, No. 807,676, Dec. 19, 1905. This clamp comprises a feed-bar I5 which is slidingl mounted on the upper surface of the bed-plate. As its forward end the feed-bar carries a work-supporting plate I6 while at its rear end it carries a vertically disposed post I! having at its upper end a crosshead I8. Secured upon the upper surface of the bed-plate I is a bracket I9 in the upper end of which is journaled a rock-shaft 20. At One end of the shaft 20 there is attached a downwardly extending slotted arm 2I which engages a swivel block 22 slidingly fitted upon the post I1. At its other end the shaft 20 has secured to it an upwardly extending arm 23 which carries a stud 24 tracking the cam groove I3. Through this mechanism, rotation of'the cam-wheel l2 effects endwise movement of the work-clamp.

Sidewise movement of the clamp is effected from the cam-groove I4. That cam-groove is tracked-by a stud 25 carried by the upper arm 26 of a two-armed lever 21 fulcrumed, at 28, on the bracket I9. The lower arm 29 of the lever 21 is connected to one end of a link 30, the other end of which is adjustably connected to one arm 3| of a-bell-crank lever 32 fulcrumedon a stud 33 threaded into the bed-plate l. The other arm 34 of the bell-crank lever 32 is connected by a link 35 with a plate 36 slidingly mounted on the bed-plate I and connected with the clamp feedbar I to move it laterally.

Thus by rotation of th cam-wheel l2 the work-clamp is given both lengthwise and sidewise movements. These movements are so combined as to cause the clamp, and the work carried thereby, to be moved in a substantially heartshaped path, whereupon the stitch-forming mechanism sews the seam s, shown in Fig. 7.

The cycle of operation of the machine is controlled by a conventional stop-motion mechanism S.

The work, consisting of a body material m, a strap-like handle h and a reinforcing pad p, is held in assembled relation on the work-supporting plate l6 by an improved workholder I-I shown in perspective in Fig. 3 and forming a part of the work-clamp C which also includes a substantially C-shaped bracket 36 having its base 36 secured upon the clamp feed-bar l5 and having, at its free end, a head 31.

The work-holder H'includes a horizontally disposed substantially rectangular work-clamping member 38 having,'at its rear end, upstanding portions 39 to each of which is secured the foot portion 40 of an L-shaped bar 40, the leg portion of which is slidingly mounted in the head 31 of the clamp bracket 36. Coil springs 4|, seated in cavities 42 in the head 31 and bearing at their lower ends on screws 43 carried by the bars 40, tend to hold the bars 40 and the member 38 depressed so that the member will hold the body material m in pressure contact, with the work-supporting plate [6 of the work-clamp. The work-clamping member 38 is formed with a cavity or pocket 38 (Fig. 5) adapted to receive the reinforcing pad 17 and, at its rear side between the upstanding portions 39, with a clearance aperture 38 which affords clearance for the handle 11. (see Figs. 5 and 6). Cooperating with the member 38, in holding the work, is a second work-clamping member which preferably comprises a pair of presser-feet 44 each secured to the underside of the off-set lower end 45 of a spring-depressed presser-bar 45 also slidingly mounted in slideways in the head 31 of the clamp bracket 36. The presser feet 44 have downwardly extending flanges 44 (Fig. 5) which fit within the pocket 38 of the member 38 and bear upon the upper face of the pad p to hold it in said pocket. The feet 44 are so shaped a to afford between them a substantially heart-shaped opening within which the stitch-forming mechanism sews the seam 8 through the pad 1), handle it and body material m. Leaf springs 46, carried by the clamp-bracket 36, have their free ends bearing on the upper ends of the presser-bars and constantly urge them downwardly. A faceplate 41.secured to the front of the head 31, as by screw 48, hold the bars 40 and 45 in their respective slideways in the head 31.

Slidingly mounted in the bracket-arm head 4 is a spring depressed clamp-lifting bar 49 adapted to be moved upwardly by the clockwis rotation of a manually actuable lever 56 (Fig. l) the forward end 50 of which is forked and embraces the bar beneath a collar 49 secured thereon. The lever 50 is fulcrumed at 5| on a bracket 52 secured upon the .upper side of the arm 3. This lever may be turned about its fulcrum bya suitable .treadle (not shown) through-the medium of a chain 53 connecting th treadle with the lever.

Secured to the lower end of the clamp-lifting bar 49 is an L-shaped arm 54 having a portion 54 adapted, when the machine is at rest, to underlie pins 55 secured to and projecting horizontally from the presser-bars 45. Thus when the clamp-lifting bar is lifted, by manipulation of the lever 50, the presser-bars and the presser-feet 44 carried thereby also are lifted.

Pivotally mounted upon a screw 56 threaded into one of the upstanding portion 39 of the frame 38 is a latch 51 having a nose portion 58 which normally overlie the free end of the portion 54 of the arm 54 when the machine is at rest. A spring 59, secured by a screw 60 to one of the upstanding portions 39, has its free end bearing up on the latch 51 and tends to maintain the nose 58 of the latch above the portion 54 The latch 51 is formed with a fingerpiece 6| by means of which the latch may be swung clockwise, as seen in Fig. 3, to the position indicated in dotted lines, in which position the nose 58 is out of vertical alignment with the clamp-lifting arm 54.

When the latch is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, upward movement of the bar 49 and the arm 54 carried thereby effects, through th latch, upward movement of the work-holding member 33 along with the presser-feet 44. When the latch is swung to its dotted line. position the frame 38 may be lowered by the springs 4| independently of the presser-feet 44.

To load the work-clamp, the operator actuates the treadle connected with the lever 50, thereby swinging that lever clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1. This raises the clamp-lifting bar 49, which, through the arm 54, pins 55 and latch 51, simultaneously raises the presser-feet 44 and the work-holding member 38. The body material m is then placed upon the work-supporting plate l6, beneath the member 38 and one end of the handle it is inserted through the clearance aperture 38 in the member 38 into overlapping relation with the body material as shown in Figs. 5 and '7. When the body material and the handle have been properly positioned relative to the clamp and to each other the operator trips the latch 51, whereupon the member 38 descends under the influence of the springs 4| and clamps the body material and the handle together and upon the work-supporting plate. With the frame inv lowered position and the presser-feet retained in their upper position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the operator inserts the reinforcing pad pinto the pocket 38 in the member 38 and thereafter releases the clamp lifting treadle and permits the presser-feet to descend under the influence of the springs 46 to cause the flanges 44 to bear upon the marginal portions of the pad, whereupon the body material, the handle and the pad are all held against relative movement. The sewing machine is then started and the uniting seam s is sewed through the three elements held by the work-clamp, as shown in Figs. 5 and '7. After the seam has been completed the machine is automatically brought to rest by the stop motion mechanism.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that this invention has provided a work-holder for article-attaching machines which' greatly facilitates the proper locating and clamping of a plurality of articles which are of such nature that theyare difficult to arrange relativeto eachother 'andleasily disarranged.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, What I claim herein is:

l. Work-holding means for sewing machines comprising a work-support; upper and lower separable clamp-members overlying said worksupport said lower member having an article-receiving pocket; spring means for individually depressing said clamp-members; lifter means for simultaneously lifting both of said members in opposition to said spring means to permit a workpiece to be placed on said work-support beneath said clamp-members; and manually actuable means for disconnecting the lower one of said clamp-members from said lifter means to permit said lower member to be depressed upon a work-piece placed upon said work-support and to expose its article-receiving pocket for the insertion of an article; said lifter means thereafter being released to permit the upper clamp-member to be depressed by its spring means into contact with an article placed into said pocket.

2. Work-holding means for sewing machines comprising a work-support; two separable clampmembers overlying said work-support with one clamp-member above the other; spring means for individually depressing said clamp-members; lifter means for lifting one of said members in opposition to said spring means and relative to the other member; and a manually actuable latch pivotally mounted on the other of said members and adapted to engage said lifter means for effecting unison movement of both of said clampmembers in response to the action of said lifting means.

3. Work-holding means for article-attaching machines comprising a universally movable worksupporting plate; upper and lower separable clamp-members overlying said plate; spring means for individually depressing said clampmembers; lifter means common to said clampmembers for lifting said members simultaneously in opposition to said spring means; and mane ually actuable means for disconnecting one of said clamp-members from said lifter means to permit said one of the clamp-members to be lowered independently of the other.

4. A work-holder for article-attaching machines comprising a work-supporting plate; a spring-depressed frame-like work-holding element for holding a work-piece on said plate, said element having an article-receiving pocket; a pair of spring-depressed presser-feet vertically aligned with said pocket and adapted to hold an article therein and above said work-piece; means for lifting said presser-feet; and means for releasably connecting saidvelement with said lifting means for unison movement of said element and presser-feet by said lifting means.

5. A work-holder for article-attaching machines comprising a substantially C-shaped frame having a vertically arranged head; a work-supporting plate connected with said frame; a spring-depressed frame-like work-piece-holding element slidingly mounted in said head, said element having an article-receiving pocket and a clearance aperture; presser-feet slidingly mounted in said head and vertically aligned with said pocket; means for simultaneously lifting said element and said feet to permit the location of a work-piece on said work-supporting plate beneath said work-pieceholding element and the insertion of one end of a strap-like member through the aperture in said element and into contact with said workpiece; means for lowering said element and into a pair of spring-pressed clamping contact with said work-piece and straplike member while maintaining said presser-feet elevated, thereby to expose said article-receiving pocket for the insertion of an article therein; and means to lower said presser-feet into clamping contact with the article in said pocket.

6. An article-attaching machine including a work-clamp frame having a vertically arranged head; a work-supporting plate connected with said frame; a spring-pressed work-clamping element having a shank portion slidingly mounted in said head and a base portion overlying said work-supporting plate for holding a body material on said plate and an attachable article on said body material, said base portion having therein an article-receiving pocket; a spring-depressed presser-device having a shank portion slidingly mounted in said head and a foot portion overlying the base portion of said workclamping element, said foot portion having a flange extending downwardly into said pocket and adapted to hold a second attachable article therein; a vertically movable clamp-lifting bar; an arm projecting laterally from said bar; a stud projecting from the shank portion of said presser device and overlying said arm; means for lifting said bar to cause said arm and stud to lift said presser-device; a latch carried by said work-clamping element and normally engaging said arm .to cause said element to be raised simultaneously with said presser-device; and means for disconnecting said latch from said arm to permit said work-clamping element to be depressed independently of said presser-device.

7. An article-attaching machine comprising stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating thread-carrying needle and a complemental loop-taker; a work-clamp including upper and lower superposed work-holding elements each provided with an open center in vertical alignment with said needle; means to move said workclamp in a predetermined horizontal path during the operation of said stitch-forming mechanism to cause the stitch-forming mechanism to sew a seam of predetermined outline in work held in the open center of said work-holder; spring means for individually depressing said work-holding elements; clamp-lifting means common to said work-holding elements for lifting both of said elements simultaneously in opposition to said spring means; and a manually releasable connection between said lower workholding element and said clamp-lifting means for permitting said lower element to be depressed independently of said upper element.

8. In a sewing machine work-clamp having a lower work-supporting member; a plurality of upper work-clamping members each adapted independently of the other to exert a work-clamping pressure upon work resting upon said worksupporting member; lifter means common to said upper clamp-members; and means to disconnect one of said upper clamp-members from said lifter means.

9. In a sewing machine work-clamp having a lower work-supporting member; a plurality of upper work-clamping members; spring means to bias each upper work-clamping member independently of the other to work-clamping position; lifter means common to said upper clampmembers; and means, operable at will, to disconnect one of said upper clamp-members from said lifter means.

HERMANN GUNTI-IER. 

